Nastya Ovechkina Suggests Alex Ovechkin's NHL Career to Conclude After Next Season, Followed by Russian Return

 In an exclusive interview with aif.ru's Olga Shablinskaya, Nastya Ovechkina, wife of hockey superstar Alex Ovechkin, shared insights into her husband's future plans, revealing that the family has recently returned to their native Russia. A key quote from her sit-down was initially circulated on X by @HockeyNewsHub.

Nastya Ovechkina stated unequivocally that her husband, Alex Ovechkin, intends to fulfill the final year of his current NHL contract with the Washington Capitals next season before relocating permanently to Russia. "Alexander still has a contract for a year," Ovechkina remarked, as translated. "So we will play the next season, and then fly back to live in Moscow, to our homeland. We will stay in Russia, yes."

This revelation follows closely on the heels of a minor stir caused by an email campaign from the Capitals’ corporate sales department, which was sent to certain season-ticket holders and mistakenly suggested that the 2025-26 season would be Ovechkin's last in Washington. Capitals PR quickly addressed the confusion, clarifying that the email was an error and no definitive decision had been made regarding Ovechkin's future beyond the upcoming year.

Ovechkina further elaborated on the immense pressure her husband experienced during the past season, particularly as he pursued Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record. Ovechkin famously tied and then surpassed Gretzky's monumental achievement in the final month of the regular season, scoring three goals across two games on April 4 and April 6.

"He didn't show it, but I understood how hard it was for him," Ovechkina shared. "So, I repeat, I waited for Sasha to score faster. And relax. He has his last season next year. And I want him to simply enjoy what he loves, to simply enjoy this last season."

Interestingly, Alex Ovechkin himself has been more circumspect about his post-Capitals future. When questioned during the Capitals’ Breakdown Day, the 39-year-old winger offered a humorous evasion, jokingly mentioning playing for the Hershey Bears in the AHL playoffs and preparing for training camp, rather than providing a direct answer.

"To be honest with you, I haven’t thought about it yet, but we’ll see what’s going to happen," Ovechkin commented. "Obviously, I’m going to try to do my best to be able to do well next year, and we’ll see. For me, it’s first of all to make a roster when [I'm] 40 years old, you know? I have to pass [a] skating test," he added, "It’s one thing, and then we’ll see."

Ovechkin has historically expressed fluctuating sentiments about how he envisions concluding his professional hockey career. However, he has consistently hinted at a desire to finish with his hometown team, Dynamo Moscow of the KHL. The future first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famer developed within Dynamo’s hockey academy and played the initial four years of his professional career with the club in the then-Russian Super League. Dynamo currently lists Ovechkin as an advisor, and he has maintained an active role in alumni events since his NHL debut with the Capitals in 2005. His last appearance for Dynamo occurred during the 2012-13 NHL lockout, when he, alongside Capitals linemate Nicklas Backstrom, skated for the eventual Gagarin Cup champions before the NHL season resumed.

Ovechkin will become eligible to sign a new contract extension on July 1 of this summer. The 2025-26 campaign marks the final year of the five-year extension he inked with the Capitals in 2021.